Vmart wrote:Phil has to make moves to help this team. I personally think Melo is a goner. He is going to somewhere that is in title mode. I personally think he ends up in Houston in and trade. Once that domino falls the Knicks go into full on rebuild. I can see mass movement to obtain picks similar to what the Celtics did this year.
At this point, part of me thinks we might as well trade Melo off and start over. I'm really 50/50 on this -- can see it both ways...This 2nd shoulder issue (now the other shoulder) has got me concerned, as does Melo's age & style of play which, let's face it, isn't really conducive to the type of ball Phil wants to play.
Then again, if we keep him (dude is a star in his prime) and can get him to trust his teammates more and buy into the new system, I honestly think we could be competitive again next year w/o spending too much money (since we're over the cap, we can't really spend a ton anyway. Not yet.). Regardless if Melo's retained or not, we need to see a series of sound, well-thought-out moves to improve the roster within the budget we'll be working with:
(1) Sign Patty Mills like Briggs mentioned recently. Being a tax-paying team, I believe that we can offer a contract starting at $3.278mm that runs for up to 3 years max with 4.5% raises. 3 yrs/$10.28mm with the assurance that he becomes the starting PG (Felton and Prigioni are pushed to the bench until we can find takers). I think that's fair and might be something SA isn't prepared to offer him.
(2) Sign Cole Aldrich to a full vet minimum deal for a 5-year player -- 2 yrs/$2.163mm I believe.
(3) Look into moving Chandler and Shumpert, Hardaway Jr. too possibly (I'm not married to this kid at all) for a young impact player(s) or a pick(s). Call Sacramento -- see if they'd do Shumpert for McCallum/Acy and pick 37. Call Cleveland -- see if they'd do Shumpert for Scotty Hopson and pick 33, etc.
(4) If we wind up moving Chandler, bring in one more 7-footer to split time with Cole in the middle. I liked Justin Hamilton for this role but the Heat just called him up and gave him a team option for next year. Next on my list would be Marcus Cousin. I think this guy's a well-rounded, very underrated 5-man that can play in the NBA. He plays hard, he rebounds and he's a very underrated offensive player. Surprisingly very polished. People would like this guy if they saw him play. Cousin/Aldrich would be enough for me in the middle. We don't need players that make a ton of money at every position -- just gimme some role players that are hungry, play hard and have an impact.
(5) Hopefully come up with a 1st round pick somewhere -- look at PGs like Napier, Burton, etc.
(6) Buy a 2nd round pick in the 30-40+ range -- consider Russ Smith 1st, then maybe a 2G upgrade to replace Shumpert -- CJ Wilcox, PJ Hairston if he slips, Jabari Brown, Bogdan Bogdanovic (only if we could sign him and he agreed to come to the NBA), etc..
(7) "Shake the bushes." Consider filling in some of the other gaps with cheap alternatives:
• Sign 7' C Marcus Cousin to a contract.
• Sign 6'8" PF Richard Howell (very similar to DeJuan Blair -- replaces Kenyon Martin, backs up Amar'e next season at the 4).
• Consider signing Daniel Orton as an extra big man (younger than Jeremy Tyler--more polished, better rebounder/shot-blocker, higher impact/upside. Better all-around version of Jeremy Tyler. Additional depth at the 4/5).
• Sign 6'9" SF Devin Ebanks (better version of Earl Clark -- legit hybrid forward that can back up or play alongside Melo. Very talented offensively).
• Sign a Terrence Williams, DeQuan Jones, Patrick Christopher (just had a 47-pt game in the DL), etc. (replacements for Shumpert--extra SG depth).
• Consider Glen Rice Jr. as an extra wing if Washington lets him become a FA.
• Consider signing either Seth Curry or Kalin Lucas to a contract (extra plus shooter in Curry; added PG depth with either guy).
4/9/2014 9:11 PM